Iringa. Tanzania is set to transform the notorious Kitonga Mountain pass into a four-lane highway to eliminate chronic congestion and improve road safety.
Final stages of preparations for this major expansion along the strategic Tanzam Highway in the Iringa Region.
The minister for Works, Abdallah Ulega, announced the project during an inspection of the seven-kilometre stretch on February 26, 2025.
This infrastructure upgrade follows a direct presidential order from Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The President has prioritised the removal of logistical bottlenecks to facilitate smoother trade and travel.
The current two-lane configuration has struggled to cope with a massive surge in transit volume.
Official data reveals that daily traffic on this section has climbed from 1,700 vehicles to over 3,400 per day.
This doubling of road users has rendered the existing mountain pass insufficient for modern transport needs.
The new design will feature two lanes for ascending traffic and two for descending.
This layout is expected to significantly reduce the risk of head-on collisions and heavy-vehicle stalls.
Safety remains a central pillar of the proposed upgrades for the Kitonga section.
Mr Ulega confirmed that the entire mountain pass will be fitted with modern street lighting to ensure 24-hour visibility.
Furthermore, the project includes the installation of reinforced safety barriers along the steep cliffs.
These barriers are specifically designed to prevent vehicles from plummeting into the deep gorges during accidents.
Such features are now a mandatory requirement for all new national road projects under the current administration.
The Kitonga pass serves as a critical economic artery for both Tanzania and its landlocked neighbours.
It functions as a primary transit corridor for cargo moving from the Port of Dar es Salaam to southern and central African markets.
Any delay at this mountain bottleneck has a direct negative impact on regional trade efficiency.
By widening the road, the government aims to lower transport costs and improve the reliability of the regional supply chain.
Following technical recommendations from the Tanroads Regional Manager in Iringa, the Minister has issued an immediate directive for procurement.
The ministry of Works has been instructed to begin the tendering process for contractors and materials without delay.
The government views this project as an essential investment in the nation’s strategic infrastructure.
Immediate action is required to ensure the road can handle the projected growth in international transit traffic.
The expansion of the Kitonga pass marks a significant shift in Tanzania’s approach to mountain road engineering.
By integrating four lanes with modern safety technology, the state aims to turn a hazardous bottleneck into a high-capacity transit zone.
